The Atlanta Braves are done playing baseball for the 2026 season, but that doesn't mean that their prospects are sitting idle. While many minor leaguers are already in their offseason programs, a select few of the Braves' farmhands got the opportunity to get some extra playing time this fall against some of the better prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
The AFL’s primary purpose is to give extra playing time to players who may need it. Most of the time, the players who get sent are those who missed time due to injury at some point. However, there are some prospects whose teams want to give another look to decide whether or not they should get a chance to continue their careers. The contingent of minor leaguers the Braves sent to Arizona contains a nice mix of both types.
Here is how all of the Braves prospects in the AFL are doing right now
We are still very early in the AFL season, so it is important one should avoid drawing too many conclusions from a small set of data. However, it is useful to check in and get a sense as to where these guys are at this point, if for no other reason than to confirm they are fully healthy.
Tate Southisene
Despite still being pretty young, Tate Southisene is a classic example of the type of prospect that often makes it to the AFL. Southisene blasted his way through the minor leagues in 2026 after a tough pro debut the year before. Unfortunately, in his first game after being promoted to Double-A, Southisene broke his wrist on a hit-by-pitch, and his season was done just like that.
Thankfully, the AFL exists to give Southisene some needed plate appearances. So far, through 11 plate appearances in three games, the former Braves first-round pick looks back to normal, with three hits and three walks in Arizona.
Owen Carey
Owen Carey is a slightly different situation than Southisene, since Carey actually ended the season healthy, but missed significant time early on due to an injury to his heel. Once he returned, Carey forced his way to Double-A after a strong performance at high-A Rome, although he struggled after his latest promotion, as many 20-year-olds do.
Carey has seen plenty of playing time in the AFL so far, but the results have been lacking. In six games, Carey has 20 plate appearances, but has only three singles to his name so far. One possible bright spot is that Carey has only struck out once, so perhaps the BABIP gods will start shining on him again soon.
Isaiah Drake
Isaiah Drake was looking like one of the redemption stories of the 2026 season in the Braves' minor leagues. After a tough start to his professional career, which was plagued by severe strikeout issues, Drake tightened things up last year and seemed poised to break out in 2026 before a thumb injury cut his season short.
Like Carey, Drake has already played quite a bit so far, with appearances in seven games in the AFL. Also like Carey, Drake's actual production has been lacking, with a .227/.227/.227 line through 22 plate appearances with zero extra-base hits.
Briggs McKenzie
Briggs McKenzie got a lot of attention early in the 2026 season after he earned two very quick promotions. Unfortunately, a nerve issue in his throwing arm halted that momentum and limited the Braves' over-slot draft pick to just seven starts last season.
The good news is that McKenzie looks healthy and his pitches are showing life. The bad news is that his command has been very rusty so far in the AFL. In two appearances, McKenzie has given up nine runs (eight earned) in five innings of work. There is no cause for panic yet, but McKenzie’s struggles may warrant keeping a close eye on for lingering red flags.
Tanner Bauman
Tanner Bauman came to the Braves after being released from the Yankees' minor league system, and Atlanta must think there is something there if they opted to send Bauman to Arizona. After a very unremarkable stint after the Braves scooped him up, Bauman has struggled in the AFL, allowing seven runs (four earned) and six walks in just four innings.
Owen Hackman
The Braves drafted Owen Hackman in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he carved out a decent career in the minor leagues despite moving through the system slowly. After finally getting to Double-A this season, Hackman is throwing well at the start of the AFL with a 1.93 ERA through three appearances, though his peripherals are a bit less encouraging.
Tyler LaPorte
Tyler LaPorte is a great story of perseverance, as he converted to pitching late and spent four years in indy ball before the Braves signed him to a minor league deal. Atlanta’s faith was rewarded in 2026, as LaPorte was nasty at Double-A with a 1.84 ERA in 49 innings, and the AFL has been more of the same so far. In four appearances thus far, LaPorte hasn't given up an earned run and has struck out seven batters against just three walks. If you are looking to guess the Braves AFL prospect who has the best chance of making their major league debut in 2027, LaPorte may be the bet to make.
Logan Samuels
Samuels is another late Day 2 pick from the 2024 draft who is getting some playing time this fall in the AFL. Samuels is a righty reliever who struggled mightily while repeating high-A this season, and his results in Arizona have been mixed thus far. While Samuels has struck out eight batters in four appearances, he has also given up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks. In short, Samuels may be running out of chances to prove himself.
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